Code + Chords: Targeting self-efficacy in music technology (WIP)

Abstract

Primary school students can benefit from feeling capable and confident that they could succeed in computer engineering. This study used music and creation-based learning in exploration of the computer program Code + Chords to help achieve that goal. Code + Chords is a customizable music visualization software that responds to the pitch and amplitude of a person's voice, giving users the interdisciplinary experience of working with coding, music, and technology. This research project was based on the question, To what extent may self-efficacy be increased in music technology using Code + Chords programming? Primary school participants explored music, coding, and technology at three St. Paul Public Libraries. These two-hour-long workshops fostered learning through multiple hands-on activities and use of the program Processing to support engagement with the Code + Chords program. Pre- and post-workshop surveys were taken to analyze student's experiences with the workshop as a whole. Survey results showed that the average participant's self-efficacy minutely decreased. Written observations of positive student engagement with Code + Chords alongside survey results suggest that, with improvements, there is strong potential for increased self-efficacy in future iterations of this workshop.